US embassy cable - 05BAGHDAD4957

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 004957 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/12/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PINR, IZ 
SUBJECT: SUBJECT:  SADR CITY YOUTH SPORTS NGO TEACHES 
MORALS AS WELL  AS SPORTS 
 
 
Classified By: CLASSIFIED BY POLITICAL COUNSELOR ROBERT S. FORD FOR 
REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D). 
 
 1. (SBU) SUMMARY:  In meeting last month, Sadr City DAC 
member Mohammad Abdullah Shamikh told PolOff his NGO, The 
Sport Parliament of Sadr City, is responsible for teaching 
approximately 5,000 youth in 25 different sports schools 
about morals and sports.  Some of his former students have 
gone on to represent Iraq in international competitions 
such as the Olympic Games.  He claimed his organization, 
which has about 2,700 adult members, is free of Sadrist 
influence and teaches youth to eschew violence.  Shamikh 
asked for Embassy support in his endeavors. END SUMMARY. 
 
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Possibly A Force For Good 
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2. (SBU) Shamikh told PolOff that The Sport Parliament of 
Sadr City relies on volunteers, most of whom are teachers 
and university professors by profession, to instruct the 
students in a variety of different sports.  Students come 
to his schools for two hours sessions with the first hour 
devoted to lessons on morality.  Topics include respecting 
one's parents and elders, loyalty to one's community, 
honesty, personal hygiene, and eschewing violence.  During 
the second hour the youth play sports. 
 
3. (C) Shamikh said he is able to run his NGO without 
Sadrist interference because many Sadrists feel that 
activities such as sports, which are not done in Allah's 
name, are a waste of time.  Sadrists, he said, generally 
have no love of sports.  Shamikh said that by influencing 
youth to eschew violence and engage in athletics, he is 
able to convince them not to join violent groups such as 
the Jaysh al Mahdi. 
 
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In Need Of Resources 
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4. (SBU) Shamikh told PolOff that his organization is in 
need of resources.  He requested Embassy assistance in 
constructing sports facilities, such as stadiums, providing 
uniforms and equipment, and instructing the youth.  He said 
that without assistance, the next generation of Sadr City 
youth may fall under the influence of undesirable elements. 
MNF-I visited the organization's headquarters and donated 
soccer equipment as part of the "Send A Smile" program. 
MNF-I has also expressed interest in helping the Sadr City 
Sports Parliament pursue avenues to renovate its 
facilities.  To date, over USD 670,000 has been spent on 
sports-related projects in Baghdad. 
KHALILZAD